Director’s Reports

Celebrating Kingswood

August 13, 2026

Celebrating Kingswood

August 13, 2026

From dinner onwards yesterday we honored Kingswood people who have either advanced in the Varsity Club or reached a higher level of tenure at camp. Huzzahs!

There are several sets of photos put up in the past 24 hours that feature hikes. Morgan and Scott report that 34 persons reached one of the three levels of Varsity Club this summer. Fantastic and no doubt a camp record. Check the first photo in my album and there you see the object of their dreams – climbing mountains that are on the Kingswood Wheel.

The starred mountains are requisites and the first level, Piermont, has all 14 items listed as mandatory. For Franconia and Presidential, eleven summits are needed along with the starred requirements.

With this background, you can now appreciate the albums.

Starr King and Waumbek do not feature open summits and nice views, but one is named after the author of “The History of the White Mountains” and the other is a 4000 footer. Accordingly, the boys insisted on this trek and had a good time.

Percival and Morgan are low but rugged summits overlooking Squam Lake and are known for the deep cave one hikes through and the ladders climbed at one steep point. Gotta do it!

Chocorua, on the other hand, is the most photographed mountain the Whites. We have stories aplenty about this spot. All three clinics and A Block to be missed: Dandy!

At the supper-time picnic, camp folks with five or more summers of Kingswood experience enjoyed a steak dinner. The others were a mite envious, but they loved those hot dogs and hamburgers. Lots of the 5+ individuals treated themselves to everything offered.

As darkness descended, we gathered in the Dining Room to celebrate both Varsity Club accomplishments and camp tenures.

We have great shirts for Varsity Club. These people hike with a “swagger” and deserve the merits they receive.

I did not photo all the “exactly five summers” crowd, shown in the green shirts, but they were proud puppies! Three Wipfler granddaughters and Brian T. were honored for year #10. Almost always the happiest are those who hit the magic six years (and beyond.) A different award every summer comes their way, Kingswood neck ties being a huge hit this time around.

Today is a huge one at camp as the Bow & Arrow competition concludes with the Clutch Relay this afternoon and Songfest this evening. I do not know who is going to come out on top but I can acknowledge beforehand that clean fun and fine fellowship will ensue, along with plenty for me to write about tomorrow!